CAREER 1ST HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL WIN FOR RICKIE LOUCKS COMES AT THE HILL WHILE BEN SCOTT WINS 1ST OF 2023 & 1ST EVER AT POTOMAC; JOHN MOLLICK SWEEPS BIG RUSH SPRINT WEEKEND; $50,000 OF PRODUCT DISTRIBUTED AT MFG NIGHTS

By Marcie Barlow

August 31, 2023                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Pulaski, PA)...It was a weekend of firsts as Rickie Loucks scored his career first Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH Late Model presented by Born2Run Lubricants race, while Ben Scott cracked victory lane at Potomac for the first time ever.  In addition, teams in the RUSH Late Model, Sprint Car, and Stock Car divisions shared in nearly $50,000 of valuable product giveaways at their annual MSD Performance "Manufacturers Nights".  John Mollick had a huge weekend winning at both Lernerville and Tri-City in Hovis RUSH Sprint Car Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series action! 

Ben Scott led the field to the green Friday evening at southern Maryland's Potomac Speedway and quickly claimed the top spot.  The Delaware driver went on to lead the entire distance of the 20-lap event to score his career first Potomac victory in Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH Late Model City Chevrolet Weekly Series action.  Ed Pope, Jr. claimed the runner-up position for the second consecutive week and that was enough for him to claim the 2023 divisional title at the track.  Jeremy Pilkerton, Dale Hollidge and Scooter Tippett rounded out the top five.

Rickie Loucks and Chad Homan led the 25-lap RUSH Late Model main event to the green Friday at The Hill Speedway.  Loucks use the high side of the speedway to open up a huge lead over Homan, who battled Brian Knowles for the second spot.  The event would go caution free and Loucks would score his career first RUSH Late Model victory in the $1,000 to-win City Chevrolet Weekly Series special!  Homan and Brian Knowles completed the top three.   

Doug Ricotta and Dave DuBois led the RUSH Late Model field to the green Saturday event at Genesee Speedway.  DuBois led the early laps of the main event with Chad Homan close behind.  On lap 12 misfortune struck Homan as his transmission broke and he retired from the event. While under caution a heavy mist moved in, but the racing would continue with DuBois choosing the inside groove and Ricotta the outside.  Ricotta used the opportunity to take the lead and went on to score the win, becoming the seventh different winner in the division this season at the speedway.  It was Ricotta's second overall win in 2023 City Chevrolet Weekly Series action  DuBois settled for second with Jon Rivers taking the third spot for his second consecutive top five finish.  Jeremy Wonderling and Zach Carley completed the top five.  

Philip Bubeck and Frank Magill led the RUSH Late Model field to the green Saturday evening at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.  Bubeck led the first 10 circuits with Tony Musolino and Petrelle battling for the second spot.  On the ensuing restart, Brandon Burgoon used the opportunity to move into the top spot and distance himself from the rest of the field.  A caution with two laps remaining gave Petrelle the opportunity to challenge Burgoon, but he was unable to do so.  Burgoon went on to score his fourth win of the season at PPMS.  Bubeck settled for second with Petrelle claiming third.  Musolino and Kassidy Kamicker rounding out the top five.

Lucas Oil Late Model Series Rookie of the Year contender Max Blair took advantage of a night off to compete with the RUSH Late Model Sunday at Eriez Speedway.  The Centerville, Pa. driver led the entire 30-lap distance of the event to score his third Flynn’s Tire Touring Series win of the year worth $3,000.  Eriez Speedway regular Jason Genco tried everything in his playbook to take the lead from Blair but he was unable to do so.  Genco came home in the second spot by just 0.331 seconds.  Jeremy Wonderling, Joe Martin and Dave Hess, Jr. rounded out the top five in his first ever RUSH start.  The event, which was also the annual "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance, saw an Eriez record 52 competitors in attendance to receive more than $29,000 in valuable products!    

The lone Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified event of the weekend took place Saturday evening at Sharon Speedway with an excellent field of 25 cars on hand.  Kole Holden led the first circuit before fourth place starter Ayden Cipriano took the top spot on lap two and went on to score the dominating victory by more than five seconds.  It was Cipriano's sixth victory of the season, but first in Wedge Motorsports "Route 7 Rumble" Series action since May 26 at Sharon.  Eighth place starter Ben Easler came home in second with Holden claiming third.  Brandon Ritchey and JC Boyer completed the top five. 

Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH Sprint Car teams headed to Lernerville Speedway for a special Saturday night program that featured three classes of open wheel racing.  A great field of 28 cars were on hand for "Manufacturers Night" as over $15,500 of valuable products were distributed.  Veterans John Mollick and Gale Ruth, Jr. led the 24-car field to the green with Mollick quickly grabbing the lead.  While Mollick was building up a lead over his fellow competitors, 13^th place starter Blaze Myers was quietly working his way through the field and by the midway point of the event he was battling Chad Ruhlman for the second position.  A yellow on lap 15 gave Myers and Ruhlman the opportunity they needed to challenge Mollick. Myers took the second spot on lap 19 and was able to get on Mollick’s rear bumper as the duo entered turn three; the youngster tried to make a winning move but Mollick kept his cool and won the drag race down the front stretch to score the victory, which was his second of the season at the Sarver, Pa. oval.  Myers, Ruhlman, Ruth, Jr. and Arnie Kent followed.   

The RUSH Sprint Cars were a late addition to the show at Tri-City Raceway Park thanks to the efforts of Billy Myers and numerous other sponsors.  Zach Wilson and Blaze Myers led the 20-car feature event to the green.  Myers led the first 13 circuits while fifth place starter John Mollick methodically worked his way through the field.  Mollick wrestled the top spot away from Myers on lap 14; but the youngster continued to pressure Mollick for the next two laps.  Mollick was able to extend his lead to 1.897 seconds at the checkered flag to score his second victory of the weekend- this one worth $1,000 in the Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series special.  Myers and Ruhlman repeated their finishes in second and third for the second consecutive night.  Zach Wilson and Gale Ruth, Jr. rounded out the top five.

The RUSH Stock Cars were in action on Sunday at Eriez Speedway for their regular season finale.  An all-time record eight cars were on hand for "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance with more than $4,000 of valuable product distributed.  William Baker, Jr. scored his second win of the season with Lane Reinwald, Alex Bush, Matt Alexander, and Cole Strickland in tow.

Mother Nature was the victor at McKean County Raceway, Skyline Raceway, Raceway 7 and Woodhull Raceway.  Competitors at Freedom, Tyler County, Winchester, Bradford, and the Delaware Speedways were off this past weekend.

The RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire Touring Series will be in action on Sunday, September 3 at Tyler County Speedway for a $4,000 to win event that is part of the "Hillbilly 100" weekend with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.  RUSH Late Model City Chevrolet Weekly Series action is scheduled at McKean County Raceway on Thursday night, Skyline Raceway, Genesee Speedway, Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, Winchester Speedway, Woodhull Raceway (double features) Marion Center Raceway ($3,100), and Bradford Speedway.   

RUSH Sprint Car action returns to Hummingbird Speedway on Saturday for a $1,000 to-win Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series special/

The Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified division will be in action on Saturday at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.  Any driver that competes on Saturday night and goes on to win the September 23 $650 to-win special will receive a $100 bonus!

Hovis RUSH Pro Mod action returns after a two-week hiatus and is scheduled for Thursday at McKean County Raceway and Sunday at Bradford Speedway.

It’s the unofficial last weekend of Summer and the weather is looking great throughout the region so be sure and add some exciting RUSH racing action to your Labor Day weekend plans.

The RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply together with Born2Run Lubricants along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, Flynn's Tire, Sunbelt Rentals, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Bilstein Shocks, Performance Bodies & Parts, Racing Electronics, Wieland Metal Services, Frankland Racing Supply, Landrum Performance Spring, Ontime Body & Graphic, Sherwood Wheels, Precise Racing Products, Velocita-USA, Wedge Motorsports, 3C Graphix, D&V Jewelers, CrateInsider.com, and Terry Bowser Excavating.  

E-mail can be sent to the RUSH Racing Series at [email protected] and snail mail to 4368 Route 422, Pulaski, PA 16143. Office phone is 724-964-9300.  The RUSH Late Model website is www.rushlatemodels.com. Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rushlatemodels and follow us on Twitter @RUSHLM.

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